Hudson's ankle bent at nearly a 90-degree angle when New York Mets baserunner Eric Young Jr. stepped on it as the two were racing for the bag in the eighth inning. Hudson fell to the ground in obvious pain, and Young immediately ran back to Hudson to check on him.

The Braves announced the injury after their 8-2 victory at Citi Field. The team said Hudson will undergo surgery once the swelling in the ankle subsides. No timetable for his recovery was given, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien reported the surgery would end Hudson's season.

Young was clearly upset as he shook hands with Hudson before the pitcher was carted off the field.

“I apologized to him, told him it was an accident, I obviously wasn’t trying to hurt him on the play," Young said, according to ESPNNewYork.com. "He just told me to keep my head up and keep playing the game the hard way, the right way. He said there was nothing I can do about it. That made me feel somewhat better, but still bummed that he’s going to be out for a while."

Hudson's injury is a significant blow to the National League East leaders. The 38-year-old is 8-7 with a 3.97 ERA in 21 starts (131 1/3 innings).

“That’s all that was on my mind the rest of the game, was how (Hudson) he was doing,” McCann told the Journal-Constitution. “You think about his family that was here in the stands, watching that. We won, but it’s a tough night.”

Atlanta has at least one internal option to replace Hudson. Right-hander Brandon Beachy is close to returning from Tommy John surgery. Beachy made a rehab start Wednesday for Class AAA Gwinnett.

The AJC pointed out the Braves could also turn to rookie left-hander Alex Wood, who will start in place of injured left-hander Paul Maholm on Thursday.